04 February 2015

The recent “debate” about the existence of God, stimulated by a Stephen Fry’s comments on the situation, and a response by Russell Brand, led to an interesting thread on a friend of mine’s Facebook post about it. Another of her friend’s raised this point:

“Having been brought up in the church I'm aware that I can't be completely detached from my heritage when writing or talking about such things, but the first thing that made me questions whether there was a god was Job. God, if he existed, allowed his wife and children to be killed to test Job's loyalty. .. my wife and kids are not replaceable. ... I find that version of god infinitely objectionable which ultimately led me to believe there is no higher force. ”

He went on later to say:

“Even reading the Old Testament god is horrific to people that are an imperfect people, I would never do. I'd like to believe in god. I'd like to belive that god is not just [evil] Unfortunately I just can't.”(Parenthesis is my paraphrase)

He raises a point which many people, even committed Christians, struggle with. If God exists, and He is the loving God that Christians say they believe in, then how could He allow all the suffering we see around us, and how could He be so cold hearted and apparently unfair and uncaring in the story of Job? Even if, as some do (I don’t), you take the story of Job as simply an allegory to teach us about the sovereignty of God, it seems highly objectionable, doesn’t it? After all, Satan appears to “trick” God into allowing all sorts of terrible things to happen to Job and his family, and God just goes along with it, seemingly without caring.

But let’s take a closer look at things.

Firstly, people who object to Job often seem to assume the best of Job’s family, and the worst of God. (ie. That Job’s family are all innocent victims of the Devil’s plot, and that God is either uncaring, or too proud, to protect them from becoming “collateral damage” in his wager against the devil.) That starting point is what causes a lot of the difficulty that people have with the story. If, indeed, it were that simple, then the obvious conclusion is that God is an evil monster, or at best a callous overlord. But what if things aren’t so simple?

We don’t know an awful lot about Job’s family from the Bible, but we do have some clues to the fact that they are probably not just the innocent victims of Satan’s plot that we might assume.

“His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course,Job would make arrangements for them to be purified.Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking,“Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.”This was Job’s regular custom.” (Job 1:4-5)

(Emphasis mine)

Most parents know their kids pretty well. Sure, we have blind spots, and because of our parental investment in them, we always choose to believe the best of them as far as possible, so when the passage tells us that Job was worried that they had sinned during their birthday feasts, it’s a pretty good clue as to the likelihood that this had happened. Notice too that they didn't invite their righteous father to the party. In the culture at the time, to invite your siblings, but not your parents, to celebrate your birthday with you would have been highly significant, and incredibly disrespectful and insulting. The fact that his children do this is significant. They didn’t care how it looked – they didn’t want their righteous dad there to observe and spoil whatever they were doing, because they knew he wouldn’t approve.

Now we don’t know enough about them to speculate about what they were doing, but we do know enough, even from the passage, to know that God wouldn’t remove His hedge of protection from them if they WERE innocent victims. So from what we know of God from the rest of Scripture (which is vastly more than we know about Job’s children) – ie. That he is holy, loving, yet also just – and what we can glimpse of perhaps the nature of Job’s children, it is only fair to assume that the reason God removed His hedge of protection from them was that perhaps they had finally transgressed so far that God would no longer protect them from harm even for Job’s sake.

Notice something else important – it is not God who is plotting their harm, it is Satan. Even though Satan tries to incite God to raise his hand against them, God refuses to be baited, and rather removes His protection from them, and allows Satan to do what he will with them. Could God have prevented the wind that blew their house down onto them? Yes – if He hadn't removed His protection from them. Did He kill them and want them dead to make Job suffer? No. That was always Satan’splot.

Job is understandably devastated by what happens, and yet he doesn't blame God for it. That’s often the natural reaction to trials in the lives of anyone who believes in God – to implicitly or explicitly blame Him for their circumstance: "Why God? Why did you allow/cause/not prevent this from happening to me/those I care about?"

Yet Job doesn’t! He doesn’t know what’s happening behind the scenes, but he does know God, and he also knows his children. So he takes the position we should – not to assume the worst of God and the best of the family he loves, but to trust that, no matter what has happened, God is just, and loving, and worthy of his praise.

Now Job’s wife is angry! She can’t believe that Job can still trust God after what He has allowed to happen to her children, and even Job (between the children dying and her conversation with Job, God allows Satan to attack Job directly, but doesn't completely remove his protection from Job). She says what many people who don’t know God or understand him do:

“His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

But this, too, shows us something about God, and His love for Job. He doesn't remove his hand of protection from Job’s wife – He doesn't allow Satan to attack her, because He understands she is hurting and angry because of the death of her children, and the loss of their wealth. In fact, He blesses not only Job, but her, too, at the end of the story with more children, and greater wealth. Does that line up with the perception of a monstrous, evil God? Surely if He were that, He would smite her for her words against Him? And yet He doesn't, because He understands her pain, and Job’s, and the fact that she is speaking from that pain.

There’s a lot more to the book of Job – his friends misunderstanding of him, his own questions, doubts, and fears, and his response when we see him finally come face to face with God. But they go beyond the scope of the initial objection raised, and would require a commentary of length to do justice to. I hope what I have written here helps to remove some of the misconceptions and misunderstandings that raise objections to what happens at the start of the book of Job.

19 October 2011

Yesterday was a day of miracles! But, in the words of the Captain Underpants books, before I can tell you that story, I have to tell you this one…

A little over a month ago:

I’m not sure if you remember, but a little over a month ago I was asked to do the dedication of a friend’s baby in Luton. As part of the preparation, I went over to meet with my friend Danny and his wife Lisa, and their pastor. After the meeting, my friends and I had lunch together, and just before I left, he gave me a copy of “Life in the UK” – the book that you use to prepare for the test you need to take for citizenship. This was a nice gift, but as it costs around £600 to register, I said to the Lord “Well, thanks God, but I don’t actually have the money for this to be useful right now!”. And left it at that…

About two weeks ago:

We asked our home group and some close friends for prayer. This month (October)has been the most difficult month for us financially since we moved to England. Our bank account is about £900 overdrawn, and we had no extra gifts come in from anywhere (our basic monthly costs are about £300 more than our income, and there are always “suprise” costs that we rely on God to supply for, as well as the £300 shortfall). I was really concerned, and, although I prayed with Karen about it, and we had people praying for us, I started to do what I always do when we are going through financial “testing” – I started looking for a way to make up the shortfall in my own strength. I started looking for a job, thought about selling the car and getting a smaller one, and trying to find little ways to save money.

As I was doing this, I felt convicted by the Lord – he told me “You are looking to yourself for provision, instead of trusting me. Stop it!”. I took this to heart, but asked him for a small sign – a reassurance – that He hadn’t forgotten our needs and was going to provide for us. At the same time, I cancelled a relatively small subscription I have to play an online game. I posted to my “guild” online that I was cutting down on expenses, and it might be a while before I played again.

That evening, I received an email from one of the leaders of the guild, who is not a Christian, saying this:

Hey Dale,

Wubb and I have talked a bit, and we wondered how you would react if you were offered a gaming card code. Free of charge, no strings attached. Would you start playing again, or would you stay (offline)?

I know how it is to have problems with something/anything IRL, and then also have your favourite hobby taken away. The hobby is often there to distract you/your mind from IRL problems, and when you lose your hobby, the problems could seem to grow bigger.

Let me know as soon as you can, and we could have a gamecard code for you before (tonight).

And remember, if you are offered something you really want, its stupid to say no. :)

Best regards

Wow! A total non Christian was the “small sign” that God was giving me – He is still in control! AND – He was going to use this situation to give me a testimony. When I logged in to play the game, I whispered him, and said that I didn’t know what He believed, but as He knows, I am a Christian, and then explained to him what I had prayed, and how he and his partner are the “Sign” that I had asked God for. His reply was that, although he didn’t believe, his partner, who is from a committed Christian background, had said after they talked about it: “You know Dale is a Christian, and has probably been praying about it.”

I asked him what he thought of what I had said, and he told me that in his dealings with his wifes family, he has been amazed by how many “co-incidences” have happened when they prayed about it, and that their stories and mine really made him think. So – God gave me a sign, and a testimony, and drew this man I have never met a little further on his journey towards God (I believe!)

The next day…

Our good friend and co-worker for the Gospel, Angela, told us about a picture she felt God had layed on her heart about how she saw “Money just falling out of heaven for us”.

That evening, a friend of ours from Home Group who had been praying for us told me that they had received some extra money, and felt that God prompted them to give some of it to us – and gave us a gift of £100! Another sign to me that God is in control, and would provide for us.

A week ago….

A friend of ours who we haven't seen for about 7 years wrote and asked if he could stay with us for a few days while he was over in London. We were thrilled, and on Saturday he arrived and came to stay.

Yesterday…

Our friend Phillip invited us out for a meal, and our friends Simon and Helen from Home Group agreed to babysit for us. We went our for a fabulous meal at http://www.madhuwanrestaurant.co.uk/. (I really recommend it. Great ambience, and although the service is slightly slow, the food is well worth the wait – outstanding Indian Cuisine!) After dinner, he gave us each a gift. Karen got a little gift (which she loves), and to me Phillip gave a napkin. Rather curious, I opened the napkin to find a pen drawn Union Jack, with £600 written on it. He is giving me all the money I need to get my UK citizenship!!! So, a month after getting the book and grumbling at God, he just overwhelmingly blessed me, out of the blue, with the money I need for the application as well.

And…

When we got back from the evening out, just before we took Simon and Helen home, they told us that they want to give Karen a Dell Lattitude 6400 laptop – MUCH newer and more high spec than the one she currently uses!

Also…

Another member of our home Group, Linda, texted to offer us a desktop computer for the kids to use! Another Dell (our favourite UK brand even!) – second hand, but in excellent condition, with a flat screen monitor and all the bits.

Just… WOW!

All of this, in the month that we most needed God’s reassurance that he is our provider, and will meet all our needs as we walk in faith each day doing the things he has called us to.

Edit:

And Today…

Since writing this blog this morning, we have just been given the £114 we needed to buy the part we need for our car to be fixed. I’m sitting here, utterly overwhelmed by God’s generosity. – Dale

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

11 September 2011

Notes for the sermon I will be preaching tomorrow at Thamesmead Christian Fellowship.

God Bless,

Dale

Spies, Giants, and Giant Slayers

I love Fairy Tales! The best ones have giants, and the heroes always have to figure out how to deal with them. In Jack and the beanstalk, the hero runs away and kills the giant by chopping down the beanstalk while the Giant is on it. In Jack the Giant killer, the hero uses his intelligence, cunning, and the stupidity of his foes to kill many giants, and earn the name "Giant killer". In the brave little tailor, the hero tricks his 2 giants into killing each other.

Well, the other kind of story I like is a good spy story. James bond, Michael Weston from Burn Notice, even Spy Kids - the thrill of going undercover, the gadgets, surveillance techniques, daring escapes - all of these get my blood singing and stir my imagination.

What has that got to do with this morning? Well, this week as I was praying about what to preach on, I came up totally blank. So I wrote to Angela, and asked what God was speaking to you as a church. Angela's reply? "Blank is good!" Well, gee, thanks Angela! (Actually, she then went on to say you are looking at Enlarging your Borders, and the Character of God.)

So... I went away, picked something, and began to read. Turns out it was a both a SPY story AND a Giant story! Wowie! How could this get any better? I'll tell you how - the story also deals with enlarging your borders, AND the character of God! And the book I was reading was the Bible!!! Awesome huh? Anyone know which part of the Bible I am talking about?

Turn in your Bibles if you will to :

Numbers 13

Lets read it:

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”

3 So at the LORD’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. 4 These are their names:

from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zakkur; 5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori; 6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh; 7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph; 8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun; 9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu; 10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi; 11 from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi; 12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli; 13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael; 14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi; 15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki. 16 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.) 17 When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18 See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19 What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20 How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)

21 So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. 22 They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,[a] they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25 At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.

Report on the Exploration

26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”

30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

So:

The time had come for the people to go and take possession of the land that God had given them. Moses decided to scout out the land ahead. One man from each of the twelve tribes was chosen to be a spy, and each was a leader in his own right (v. 3), and given the task of surveillance. They were twelve men who without a doubt were chosen because of their personal suitability for the task, men of intelligence and courage. Twelve men sent out for forty days (v. 25), sufficient time for them to make their reconnaissance and report. Twelve men sent out as a company, drawing from each other mutual support and protection.

The twelve were sent to check out the inhabitants of the land - were they strong or weak, few or many. The twelve were sent to check out the countryside whether the land was good or bad. The twelve were sent to see whether the inhabitants of the land lived in tents or walled cities. The twelve had to assess whether the land was productive or unproductive. The spies saw in Canaan (the land that they were sent to spy out) that everything was on a grand scale. The people and the produce of the land was nothing like what they had seen or known up until that time. Imagine a cluster of grapes needing to be carried by two men on a pole (v. 23). Imagine a people that dwarfed others, giants that made other human beings feel they were mere insects (v. 33). The land of Canaan was beyond their comprehension, larger than life. The land was good, but the people were strong, the cities were walled, and many giants roamed the land. To say the least, the spies were overwhelmed by what they saw!

For the people of God, to take possession of the land seemed to be an impossible task! That was the verdict of the majority of the spies when they reported back to Moses after the forty days.

Question: Have you ever thought that something was impossible? Have you ever thought that things could be different, but were afraid to do something about it? Have you ever thought that you were too inconsequential to be able to change that reality? Some of the spies felt the pressure of not being able to face up to their anxieties and fears. We can identify with the spies in that, for time and again in our life we fail to face up to our fears and anxieties. We would rather live with the status quo, than do something about our situation and circumstance.

The problem was - ten of the spies were comparing THE WRONG THINGS to each other. They were comparing THEIR size to that of the Giants. What they should have been doing is what the hero in the next story I read did.

This story is one about a King with a special sword and suit of armor, a mighty army, a giant, and a brave hero. Any ideas?

Turn with me if you will to:

1 Samuel 17

1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Sokoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Sokoh and Azekah. 2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.

4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.[a] 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels[b]; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels.[c] His shield bearer went ahead of him.

8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

12 Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons, and in Saul’s time he was very old. 13 Jesse’s three oldest sons had followed Saul to the war: The firstborn was Eliab; the second, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah. 14 David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, 15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

17 Now Jesse said to his son David, “Take this ephah[d] of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread for your brothers and hurry to their camp. 18 Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. See how your brothers are and bring back some assurance[e] from them. 19 They are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines.”

20 Early in the morning David left the flock in the care of a shepherd, loaded up and set out, as Jesse had directed. He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry. 21 Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. 22 David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. 23 As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. 24 Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear.

25 Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.”

26 David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

27 They repeated to him what they had been saying and told him, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

28 When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

29 “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?” 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. 31 What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and Saul sent for him.

32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.”

38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

Wow! What a difference to our first story. Lets compare two of the verses to each other, and see what we can find:

Numbers 13

31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are....33 We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

1 Sam 17

37 The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine

You see, in the first story, or brave spies, who were leaders of the various tribes, compared THEIR WEAKNESS to their ENEMIES STRENGTHS. Do you ever find yourself doing this? I often do! Well, in the second story, we see the hero, a humble shepherd boy, doing exactly the opposite - he compares HIS STRENGTH (GOD) to his ENEMIES WEAKNESS (Uncircumcised = not of the people of God, forget that he is a giant - he hasn't got God on his side!!!)

So what can we learn from these two true stories about giants?

1. Giants are big and scary.

There are things in our lives, sometimes seemingly ordinary things, that overwhelm us, scare us, and that we just want to run away from. If you can think of something like this in your life, it's probably one of the "giants" of the land you are living in. And it might even be that they are guarding your promised land - or maybe I should say "infesting" your promised land.

For Karen and I, it's very often our finances. God has called us to be full time missionaries who live by faith. This is our promised land. And it's wonderful - full of Milk and Honey. But - there are giants in this land, and one of them is the faith challenge of living without a regular income. Sometimes, this overwhelms us. We very often fall in to the trap that the 10 spies fell into - that of camparing our size with the size of the giant we are facing. And when we do that, we look like grasshoppers in our own eyes.

2. In order to enlarge our borders, we need to take possession of our promised land - and drive out the giants!

One of the exceptions to the overwhelmed, "grasshopper" spies was Caleb. Not only did he come back saying "“We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” , he actually put these words into practice when he was one of only two of that generation to enter the promised land. Not for him the easy route. We see in Joshua 14:6-15 how he did this:

6 Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’[a]

10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

When it came to taking his promised land, Caleb remembered the promise of God. He claimed as his inheritence the most Giant infested part of the promised land he could find, where, if you like, the biggest, strongest, and most famous of the giants lived - Arba. And we see from the way these verses end that he drove them out, and fully claimed his promise! Just like David, Caleb placed his faith in God, not in the strength of giants, and won his battle.

Before you can enlarge your borders, you need to take your promised Land - will you stand up today, and like Caleb and David, put your faith in God, rather than allowing the giants in your way to intimidate you?

28 August 2011

17 August 2011

Little Michael loves playing guitar. He practices all day. I wish we had got him started earlier. He may already have been as good as this. Anyway, a little diversion from my usual posts. I hope this makes you smile.

13 August 2011

Here are the notes for the sermon I will be preaching at Central Baptist Church in Luton tomorrow. They express my thoughts on the terrible weekend we had in London, and our response to it as Christians.

Unity in Community

"If the young men are not initiated into the village, they will burn it down – just to feel it's warmth." - African proverb

Over the last week, England and the world have been shocked by the appalling incidents of rioting and looting which have devastated communities in London, and across England. The question being asked by politicians, journalists, community leaders, in fact by everyone - is what caused such a massive outbreak of lawlessness and violence among a group mainly aged between 9 and 25 years old. People are baffled .

Perhaps the incidents in Tottenham could be understood in the light of the anger against the shooting of Mark Dugan by police, even if the level of violence resulting could not be condoned. But why did this kind of rioting and lawlessness spread, not just across London, but to other cities where they couldn't possibly have known Mark Duggan - Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Wolverhampton?

As I have watched the debates about this on TV and read them in the Newspaper and Online, there have been various theories about this put forward. Many of them speculate that it is to do with the feelings of disenfranchisement experienced by disadvantaged youths, a loss of hope for the future in the current economic climate of cutbacks and unemployment, perhaps the consumerisation of youth in our society who are given so much for nothing that they have come to expect their every desire to be given to them immediately, and for free.

When I read the quote I started with posted on Facebook by a friend of mine in the US, it really resonated with me as I wrestle with my own questions about why this could possibly happen - not just the city I live in, but my own neighbourhood. Somehow, it manages to capture everything that people are theorising - the sense of not belonging, the lack of hope, the senselessness of the violence that burst forth, the selfishness of the acts of looting and destruction that occurred.

"If the young men are not initiated into the village, they will burn it down – just to feel it's warmth."

Last night on Sky News they interviewed 4 young people, who wanted the chance to say why they had been out looting. To sumarise what they said: they felt isolated, hopeless, desperate, and did it to survive. They said that they need the money they think they will make from selling the loot on to the black market.

In Ephesians, Paul writes to a church that he spent 3 years with after he planted the church. If you remember, his message was so successful that it, too, led to a riot. A riot which was started by a silversmith who gives his reasons for rioting in Acts 19:25-27:

25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

We see from this passage that Demetrius is concerned about a number of things:

1) He receives a good income from his business, and Paul's message has been so successful that it has led to an economic crisis in Ephesus for those who made their living from the worship of Artemis. Like the youths on Sky news on Friday night, he is desperately worried about his financial future.

2) His identity is threatened. He crafts statues made from silver of the goddess Artemis. This is who he is! His identity is rooted in his work. Paul is threatening that when he says that "God's made from human hands are no gods at all." The truth of the Gospel exposes the lie that Demetrius's life is built upon.

In our culture, Celebrity status is revered and sought out by many, especially young people. In the current economic climate, many young people are desperate for the wealth and prestige that celebrity brings. They try to emulate their favourite celebrities in the way they dress, the way they talk, and the way they live their lives. When they compare the reality of their own situations against the seductive lie that celebrity gossip magazines and television promote, they can't measure up, lose hope, and feel worthless. They will do anything in order to belong, feel part of something, worth something.

3) The community he belongs to is under attack. He says:

"There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."

All of this leads to him starting a riot in Ephesus.

This is all background to what happened while Paul was in Ephesus. Well, that situation was eventually resolved, and Paul's ministry continued throughtout the ancient near east. Eventually, Paul was so successful in his ministry that it lead to him being falsely accused by the Jews, and eventual imprisonment in Rome. Whil in prison, Paul's thoughts are constantly with the churches he had planted, and he wrote numerous letters to them. One of those letters was to the church in Ehpesus.

In the first part of the letter, Paul begins by reminding them of the calling that they’ve received. The first part of it, from Chapter 1, is that they’re to be blameless and holy in God's sight. Secondly, it’s that they might live to His glory. Likewise, he reminds the church in Chapter 2, that they've been created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand to be their way of life. But then, in Chapter 3:10, he says that their calling is that through the Church the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rest of creation. Go back further to Chapter 1:10. God’s plan for the world, and in particular, for the Church, is that all things should be brought together under one head, even Christ. As Christians, we too have the same calling that Paul was speaking to the Ephesians about. The calling which we’ve received is a calling to be the new people of God bound together in unity under Christ; and so Paul goes on to outline how being the new people of God is to be worked out in the down-to-earth, concrete realities of life. He writes in Chapter 4:1-6:

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

He starts out by reminding them - live worthy of the calling you have been called to, and he lists five characteristics that are necessary to maintain this calling: humility, gentleness, patience, love, and peace. What a contrast to the world they lived in, where you protect what you have through power, violence, and deceit; a "dog eat dog" world, where only the strongest survive.

I wonder how well we as a church reflect this in the world around us? Does the world see these things when it looks at our church? Does it see them when it looks at us in our workplaces outside the church? We are called to be different to the culture we live in. To be humble, in a world where the proud celebrity is admired, to be gentle in a world which often looks at gentleness and sees weakness. To be patient in a world which views life as a "rat race". To love as Jesus commanded, not just our friends, but our enemies. And to bring peace, where there is war, and rioting, and looting.

When Jesus was just moments away from his death upon the cross, he prayed to his heavenly father. But he didn't just pray for those disciples that were alive at that time - he prayed for us! John 17 records that prayer. Starting in vs 20 we read the following:

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Jesus wants us to be united, showing the world that we are his disciples by our love for one another. And He has given us a message to share.

I believe that Ephesians 4 doesn't just speak to us as believers and our life in the church. I believe that it reminds us of the message we should be speaking - to those we work with, to the communities we live in, and even to the rioters in London, or elsewhere in the country.

Firstly, they are loved. To a disenfranchised youth, who feels like no-one loves him or her, nobody cares, what they need to hear is that they are loved.

Secondly, to the hopeless, those who have given up on society, and are depressed, or overwhelmed, God gives them a hope. You are not alone in your situation. God is with you. You may feel powerless, overwhelmed, unable to cope, hopeless. But when God is with you, you have a hope. He will be with you. He will protect you. He will guide you. He will comfort you.

Thirdly, they have a future. To the person who sees their future as bleak, and empty, God wants to tell them a new story about themselves. He wants to tell them the story of the future He has for them, and that He wants to write with them. A future where they are loved, a future where they belong to a family - the family of God. A future where they have a purpose and a calling. A future where they have a heavenly father who will always be with them, and provide for them. A future that stretches on beyond just the life they imagined for themselves on earth, into the future that God imagines for them, leading into eternity.

20 June 2011

My son has Bieber Fever. That’s right, my son – not my daughter. He tries to gel his hair to look like Justin Bieber. He has learned to play Never say Never on the guitar (he’s 7, and plays better than me already. He has literally watched that video more than 100 times and perfected his “palm muting”). And he gets teased, just a little, by his sisters (9 and 12) for it. Apparently it’s not cool to like the Bieb.

I was linked to a friend of mine’s daughter’s website though my facebook. She, aged 18, admits to being a Bieber fan, and proud of it. And from her, I got this adorable little you tube link, and a new appreciation of my son’s hero. Thanks Cari!

06 February 2011

From sermon notes I wrote, and am speaking on tomorrow (06-02-2011) at Canbury Park Church, Kingston Upon Thames.

I don’t know if you have ever had the experience of meeting someone at the airport or train or bus station, but there is always a sense of great anticipation as you stand in the waiting area, and watch all the passengers coming out of the arrival gates. If you do it with children, it is fascinating to watch them – their sense of anticipation is very easy to read, and the excitement on their faces as they wait for Granny and Grandpa (or whoever you are waiting for) to come through the doors is obvious. And when they see the person they have been waiting for come through the gates, everyones faces light up with pleasure and recognition.

Now imagine with me, if you will, going to the airport to meet someone you have never met before. I have had to do this a number of times over the years as I have led Ywam Bible schools, and had to go and meet students at the airport. Usually I have some idea what they will look like, as they are supposed to provide a photo with their applications. So, standing at the airport, I carefully check and recheck the photo every time I see someone appear in the gate who may be the person I am expecting. Mostly, I am able to identify the person when they come through the gates from their photo’s, although sometimes they look quite different – their hair is longer or shorter, they have put on or lost weight – their can be quite a few things that are different to what I have been expecting.

One student, however, stands out in my memory above all others. When we received her application, she had forgotten to attach a photo of herself. For the first time, I actually paid great attention to everything she had written about herself in the application:

Her date of birth let me know to expect someone who was around 30 years old. Her height was 5 ft 3. She described herself as “Native American” under ethnicity, leading me to conclude she was either completely or partly American Indian. She was single. She was a nurse by training – maybe she would have “nursey” shoes? All of the clues I could find in her application helped me to build a mental picture of what she might look like.

Well, the good news is I decided to take a sign with me that said “Youth With A Mission” so she could find me, even if I didn’t recognise her. But.... I was determined I wanted to prove my detective abilities by recognizing her first!

Sadly, a number of flights all came in at around the same time, so I had my work cut out for me. The first thing I did when each passenger came through was check their agre and gender. Anyone too young or old, or male, was immediately dismissed (sometimes determining gender was harder than I first anticipated!) Then I would check the airline luggage tag – were they passengers on the flight from New York? Check! Ok, now for the detail stuff – were they around 5 foot 3, and “native American” looking? Hmm...

Eventually, I spotted a Native American looking lady, roughly the right age and height, and I was convinced I had found the correct person. Proud of my investigative ability, I boldly held the Ywam sign up high, and waited as she walked up to where I was standing.... and then walked right by.

“Hi – are you Dale?”, she asked. “I’m Andrea.” I literally had to stop my mouth from dropping open. She was nothing LIKE how I imagined – she looked more like a ... well.... student! (A 20-something year old white American, slim, light brown shortish hair, and with trainers on – not sensible, durable nurses shoes!) Fortunately, while I had been looking for another American Indian, she had seen the sign I held up – for the wrong person!

Well, Andrea and I laughed later when we found out that “Native American” was the PC way of saying “American Indian”, and not “Born in America American”, and she hadn’t though “White Caucasian” was a specific enough designation.

As we take a look at the topic this morning, we will see that the Jews of Jesus time were looking out for him. That as the Messiah, his coming was foretold in great detail. Sadly, we will see that although his coming was expected, the Jews, having examined the prophesies about him, like me in drawing incorrect conclusions about Andrea from the information I had available, had come to some incorrect conclusions about what the Messiah would be like and what he would do, and these wrong conclusions led to them not recognizing him when he was among them.

Jesus coming was foretold

When God created man, and gave him free will, He knew that the possibility existed that one day they might choose to disobey Him, and sin. In fact, I would go one step further and say He actually knew that they WOULD sin (I believe that God KNOWS with 100% certainty everything that is going to happen, and not just everything that might happen). Because he is a loving God, He spared mankind from a fate literally worse than death – eternal separation from Himself, by causing physical death to become part of the created order (see Gen 3:19). However, not only did He spare mankind from eternal separation from Him by creating death, He planned a way for the relationship that they had lost through sin to be restored – by sending His son to pay the price for our sins. And He didn’t do this secretly – from the moment he pronounced judgement on the serpent and Adam and Eve, he began to let them know about his plan of redemption.

Genesis 3:15 (God is talking to the Serpent – ie. Satan)

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Of course, the offspring who would crush the serpent was Jesus. God went on to give over 300 prophecies in Scripture to the Jews that would help them identify the Messiah when he came.

1) He would be born of a virgin (Is 7:14)

2) He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

3) His mission was outlined in Is 61:1-3

“ to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

4) The way he would fulfil his mission is described in Is 53:

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.

All sorts of other details about his life were prophesied, and we can read them throughout the Old Testament.

So Jesus coming was foretold.

Jesus coming was expected

Not only was it foretold, but the Jews expected it! We see that the Jews at the time of Jesus, experiencing the occupation of their land by the Roman Empire were holding on to the promise of a Messiah who would deliver them.

When they heard John the Baptist preaching, they wondered if finally the Messiah they were expecting had com.

Luke 3:15 says:

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.

John 1:19 adds a little more detail to this:

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”

From this we can see that not only the peoplewere expecting the Messiah to come, the religious leaders of the day were also expecting it. I am quite sure that they regularly consulted the Scriptures to be ready for his coming. What was he going to look like? (Is 53:2 And when we see him There is no beauty that we should desire him. What does that mean? He will be a tough, rugged warrior?) How was he going to come? Ahh – he will arrive on a donkey! (Zech 9:9) Etc, etc – looking for clues that would help them to recognise him when he came.

Well, not only was Jesus coming foretold, and expected, but also

Jesus arrival was announced and confirmed

John the Baptist, both to the people, and the leaders, told them he had come to announce the arrival of the Messiah:

Lk 3:16-18

John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

And of course, when Jesus arrived on the scene, John recognized him for who he was:

Mt 3:14-15

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

And then, the ultimate confirmation to everybody there, when Jesus comes out of the water, God the father announces and confirms that this is indeed the one the people had been expecting:

Mt 3:16

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

So, after all this, how could the leaders of the day not recognise who he was? Well, like me when I focused on the wrong details about Andrea, they had focused on the wrong aspects of the prophesies Scripture had made about him. Because they were suffering under the occupation of the Romans, they were looking for a Messiah who would come as a conquering King, someone who would overthrow the Roman leaders, and establish his Kingdom on the earth. After all, Daniel had said in Dan 7:27

Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.

So focused were they on those words, that they neglected Is 53:3 when it said:

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

And thus, when he came, very few recognised him for who he was. In fact, during his lifetime, we see very few who recognised him as the Messiah:

Mary, who was told by an angel The Wise Men, and the Shepherds John the Baptist (Mt 3) Peter (Mk 8:29) James, John, their mother, and the Disciples (Mk 10:35-41) Perhaps Nicodemus (Jn 3) A Roman Centurion (Lk 7)

And a very few others.

Well, the story doesn’t end there...

Even before his crucifixion, Jesus, after telling his disciples he was going to leave them, offered these words of comfort:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

This promise Jesus made, to return for his friends, was re-affirmed to them by angels at his ascension (Acts 1:11)

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

They held onto these words throughout the difficult trials that lay ahead of them.

We read these words in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor 15:20-24)

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

Jesus has not yet returned in this way. That means that we, too, can look forward with anticipation to his second coming. Jesus has foretold it, the angels have re-affirmed it, we are awaiting it.

21 September 2010

14 September 2010

The Bear Church

The Shaftesbury Christian Centre has now fully merged with the Bear Church. We can really praise God that the merger went really smoothly. Everyone at the Shaftesbury has found a place at the Bear Church. Originally we were meeting mainly at the Bear Church but the Bear has had return their building on Deptford High Street back to Icthus so we now meet at the Shaftesbury Christian Centre building on Frankham Street.

Both of us are involved in the children’s work at the Bear. We both help on a Thursday afternoons with the toddler group, Bear Cubs. We also involved in the Sunday School on Sunday mornings at least once a month. Karen works with the 3-4 year olds and Dale works with 8-11 year olds. This means he has both Keliah and Michael in his group.

We continue to run a home group in our home on Wednesday evenings. Our house group made up of those of us who were in the Shaftesbury and some new members who have come to us from the Bear Church. We have recently finished a really good DVD series by John Stott on the Bible. We are currently doing a series on the Kings of the Old Testament.

Dale also helps run the Bear Bible and Theology classes. This means he gives teachings on different theological issues as varied and different as “The Problem of Evil”, “Church History”, and “Women and the Church”.

Family News:

During the last couple of years God has really answered our prayers in respect to our housing. We have managed to move out of the flat at the Shaftesbury Christian Centre into rented accommodation. This was made possible by the generosity of friend from church who gave us an interest free loan of the deposit. We were also able to pay off this loan within 6 months. We have been truly blessed by God. Currently, we are living in lovely 3 bedroom house in Brockley.

Danielle and Keliah have a big enough room that they have their own beds and their own space in it! All three children also have new desks supposedly for doing their homework but they are already cluttered with DS paraphernalia!

God’s blessings on our family do not stop with houses. God blessed us this summer with a lovely Chrysler Voyager after someone did a hit and run back-ender on our parked Citroen. Dale found the Voyager online. It has only had one previous owner. The seller could have probably asked for a £1000 more than we paid for it. We have been saving for a new car to buy at the end of the year. We got the Chrysler for just about what we had saved. Our mechanic says it is a beautiful car and we got a really good deal. We really see the hand of God in all this.

Dale

God continues to use Dale’s Bible teaching gift. He continues to preach not only at the Bear but also at Thamesmead Christian Fellowship and Canbury Park Church in Kingston. Some months he can be away from the Bear Church 3 out of 4 Sundays. Fortunately, our Pastor, Paul Addlington is very supportive and so it is not a problem. In past year Dale has also had the privilege of preaching at an African Church which meets in Sydenham. The Pastor, Charles, is the dad of one Danielle’s friends from her class at St Stephen’s School.

Dale continues to take assemblies at St Stephen’s school on a regular basis. Just recently, Danielle helped Dale with an assembly on the Parable of the Talents. There was also a guest appearance by Gerry and Fiona the puppets from Children’s week. Michael and Keliah like it when Daddy does assemblies. It seems that their friends also like it when Dale comes in too as he is not boring.

One of the highlights of Dale’s year is a 2 week teaching trip to New Zealand. He teaches on a Youth With A Mission Bible school, on the Books of Ezra, Daniel and Revelation.

Dale has recently expanded the Vorster family partnership with Thamesmead Christian Fellowship by becoming one their Trustees.

Karen

Karen continues to enjoy her work at St Stephen’s Nursery School. She works part time but every day. Her job is varied from washing paint pots, putting plasters on scrapped knees to teaching music and taking Key stage 1 assemblies.

For Karen a big highlight of the year is the Thamesmead Christian Fellowship children’s week. This year Karen once again worked with the 5 year olds. She also had a close working relationship with Gerry the puppet. Danielle, Keliah and Michael will tell you that Mummy IS Gerry!!

Karen’s involvement with Thamesmead Christian Fellowship doesn’t end with children’s week – she is also part of the C.L.A.Y. Praise Party Team.

Danielle, Keliah and Michael

It has been a big year for Danielle. We were really thrilled when we learned earlier this year that Danielle had a place at the Grey Coat Hospital School. She is now confidently going into school and back on the train. Dale went with her for the first 2 days but now she is meeting friends at Lewisham and travels into school with them.

Keliah and Michael continue to enjoy their school, St Stephen’s. We were very pleased with their reports. They have really good relationships with their teachers.

All of the children are taking music lessons. Danielle took her grade 1 piano exam and passed with a Merit, Keliah is going to take her Prep Test later this year and Michael loves learning to play the guitar. He boasts that he doesn’t need to practice as he is the best in his class even without practicing!!